Watt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

One of the most common classes of Scottish surnames is the patronymic surname, which arose out of the vernacular and religious naming traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Patronymic surnames of this type were usually derived from the personal name of the original bearer's father. The surname Watt is derived from from the personal name Walter, meaning strong warrior.

Early Origins of the Watt family

The surname Watt was first found in Carnegy on the north-east coast of Scotland. "In 1446 there is mention of the seal of Wat of Carnegy. Walter Wat held land in Brechin in 1586, and Alexander Wat was witness to a sasine in 1512. Patrick Wat in Turriff was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1609, and John Wat was retoured heir of Adam Wat, writer to the King's Signet, in lands in the parish of Stewartoun, etc., in 1663. " ( Black)

Early History of the Watt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watt research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1511, 1596, 1615, 1796 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Watt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watt Spelling Variations

Scottish surnames are distinguished by a multitude of spelling variations because, over the centuries, the names were frequently translated into and from Gaelic. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Watt has also been spelled Watts, Wathes, Wattys, Wath, Watt and others.

Early Notables of the Watt family

More information is included under the topic Early Watt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watt World Ranking

In the United States, the name Watt is the 2,155^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Watt is ranked the 610^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,338 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Watt is the 268^th popular surname with an estimated 12,775 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Watt as 282^nd with 2,158 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Watt as 409^th with 15,924 people. 5

Migration of the Watt family to Ireland

Some of the Watt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watt migration to the United States +

Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Watt, or a variant listed above:

Watt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Hannah Watt, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1684 6

Watt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Watt, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 6

Watt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Watt, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1808 6
Margaret Watt, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
James Watt, who arrived in New Jersey in 1811 6
Jane Watt, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 6
Andrew Watt, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Watt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Watt U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 7
Mr. John Watt U.E. who settled in Didgequash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists, he served in the 74th Regiment 7
Mr. Robert Watt U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 7

Watt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Watt, who landed in Canada in 1820
Catharine Watt, aged 3, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
George Watt, aged 40, who landed in Quebec in 1821
Janet Watt, aged 10, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
John Watt, aged 20, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Watt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Watt, a mason, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mrs. Catherine Watt, (Watts), (b. 1787), aged 39, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Kildare, Ireland for 14 years for uttering forged notes, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 5 children 8
Miss Jean Watt, (b. 1799), aged 31, Scottish needle woman who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, 1 child listed aboard with her 9
Mr. John Watt, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
James Watt, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1838 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Watt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Watt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Lady Lilford
William Hogg Watt, who landed in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Catherine Johnson
Mr. John Watt, British surgeon travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenbervie" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th March 1840 12
Mrs. Watt, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenbervie" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th March 1840 12
P Watt, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Watt migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Watt Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

David Watt, who settled in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Watt (post 1700) +

James Watt FRS, FRSE (1736-1819), Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer who made major improvements to the steam engine, developed the concept of horsepower and the SI unit of power, eponym of the watt, a derived unit of power
Trent Jordan "T.J." Watt (b. 1994), American football outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Nfl. Younger Brother of JJ Watt and Derek Watt
Derek John Watt (b. 1992), American football fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL Younger Brother of JJ Watt and older Brother to TJ Watt
Justin James Watt (b. 1989), American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the NFL older brother to Derek Watt and TJ Watt
James Gaius Watt (1938-2023), American lawyer, lobbyist, and civil servant, U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1981 to 1983
Douglas Benjamin Watt (1914-2009), American theater critic who reported on classical music and opera for The New Yorker, one of the founders of the Drama Desk Awards
Eddie Dean Watt (b. 1941), American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
Michael David "Mike" Watt (b. 1957), American bassist, singer and songwriter, known for his work with The Minutemen
James Gaius Watt (b. 1938), American government administrator, Secretary of the Interior (1981-83)
Hamish Watt (1925-2014), Scottish politician, farmer and writer, Member of Parliament for Banffshire (1974-1979), Rector of the University of Aberdeen (1985-1988)
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Watt family +

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. Robert Watt, "J. W.", Canadian stable foreman of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 14
Mr. Robert Watt, Canadian labourer of Frank, Alberta who was buried in the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 14

HMS Hood

Mr. Robert A E Watt (b. 1919), English Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15
Mr. Charles J J Watt (b. 1920), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. George Watt (b. 1913), English Able Bodied Seaman from Rawdon, Leeds, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Elizabeth Inglis "Bessie" Watt, (née Milne), aged 40, Scottish Second Class passenger from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 17
Miss Robertha Josephine "Bertha" Watt, aged 12, Scottish Second Class passenger from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 17

The Watt Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fide et fiducia
Motto Translation: By fidelity and confidence.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rajasthan.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html